Red POV

Tick.

Tock.

The rhythmic sound of the grandfather clock echoed through Nicholas's dimly lit office. I shifted uncomfortably in the plush armchair, finishing the last delectable bite of the chicken sandwich his secretary had kindly provided. Her icy glare had left me puzzled, wondering what I had done to earn her disapproval.

Nicholas seemed to sense my unease, briefly tearing his gaze away from the document he had been meticulously examining before my arrival. However, his attention was quickly diverted by an urgent phone call, leaving me to my own thoughts. I fidgeted, unsure of how to gracefully exit without expressing my gratitude for the meal. His voice on the phone was filled with an unfamiliar language that only served to deepen my confusion.

Maybe I should slip away quietly? I pondered, my conscience nudging me in agreement.

As I contemplated my escape, I began to move my empty plate towards the adjacent stool, intending to leave it there. But before I could complete the action, a resounding thud reverberated through the room, causing me to startle.

"You can't be serious!" Nicholas's voice boomed, his frustration palpable.

He shot me a fleeting glance before striding towards the window, seemingly oblivious to my presence. The intensity of his anger was evident as he loosened his suit jacket, the fabric straining against his broad shoulders. Whatever had transpired during his phone call had clearly left him seething.

My eyes, however, couldn't help but wander, appreciating the view before me. I entertained the thought of remaining a little longer, hoping he might remove his suit entirely. But a sense of urgency compelled me to leave discreetly. Without a second thought, I set the plate down on the stool and began to tiptoe towards the exit, careful to make no noise.

Almost there, Red, my conscience whispered encouragingly.

Just as I neared the door, ready to make my escape, a voice filled with anger and authority pierced the air.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?"

My body froze, a sudden wave of dizziness washing over me. Reluctantly, I turned to face Nicholas, who was now standing, his rage palpable. The intensity in his eyes and the way he clenched his right hand sent shivers down my spine. If I hadn't been afraid of him before, I certainly was now.

My legs began to tremble, instinctively moving me backward, away from the formidable figure before me. Nicholas seemed to notice my fear, and a flicker of regret crossed his features.

"Fuck," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

"Red, I'm-" he began, but his words trailed off, leaving us both in an uncomfortable silence. He continued to stare at me, his gaze penetrating and searching for something.

Before I could find the courage to respond or even turn away, the door swung open, revealing a petite woman who I assumed was another guardian.

"Did I interrupt something here?" she inquired, clearly sensing the tension in the room.

"No, Miss Kim, I was just on my way," I answered quickly, my voice tinged with a mix of fear and relief, eager to escape the charged atmosphere.

Nicholas, however, contradicted my statement, his gaze still fixed on me before shifting to the newcomer.

"She was not," he stated firmly, his eyes never leaving mine.

Miss Kim seemed taken aback by his response, her confusion evident. She glanced between the two of us, sensing an unspoken exchange that she did not fully understand.

"What did I say about knocking, Miss Kim?" Nicholas reprimanded, his tone firm as he returned to his chair, effortlessly buttoning up his suit.

"I'm sorry, but this is urgent," Miss Kim explained, her voice carrying a hint of urgency.

"See? It's urgent. We will talk later, sir," I interjected hastily, my words sounding more like a plea than a statement, eager to make my exit and escape the bewildering situation.

Without waiting for further response, I turned on my heels and swiftly departed from Nicholas's office, the weight of confusion and uncertainty lingering in my mind.

What just happened? I wondered, grappling with the whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions that had unfolded before me.

******************

"I'm seriously confused," Ana said, reclining in the center of our room while Avery and I sat nearby.

"What's so confusing about what I said?" I asked, puzzled by her reaction.

"Red, you're telling me that you were in Mr. Caddel's office, and all you guys did was stare at each other like horny people," Ana replied, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"You need help, Ana," Avery chimed in, settling on my bed next to me.

"Thank you, and no, we didn't just stare like you said. I meant the way he was angry. It was like I couldn't look away," I explained, trying to make them understand.

"I guess that's what you get for skipping lunchtime," Ana remarked, playfully hitting my back.

"I didn't want to! He forced me," I whined in defense.

"Did he chain you to his desk?" Ana shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"Or put a spell on you?" she continued, her expression mischievous.

I shook my head in response to both questions.

"So, no, he didn't force you. Just admit it, Red. You wanted a close-up with him," Ana concluded, her voice teasing yet tinged with a hint of truth. I remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Deep down, I knew she had a point. There was something about Mr. Caddel that drew me in, even if I couldn't fully explain it myself.

"Red, I understand the whole 'I wanna fuck Mr. Caddel' thing, but you have to remember he's a guardian. If rumors start circulating that you're trying to seduce him or something, considering you didn't exactly enter this school the right way, you could get into serious trouble," Avery cautioned, her voice filled with concern.

She was right. I couldn't afford to jeopardize my position at the school because of my infatuation with Mr. Caddel. I needed to focus on my primary objective.

"Do you guys know anything about my parents? Like their history?" I asked, hoping they might shed some light on my mysterious past.

"Like, who doesn't? They were like the Romeo and Juliet of this world," Ana replied casually, painting her toenails.

"True. Their forbidden romance became legendary and inspired countless students here," Avery added, her tone tinged with admiration.

I felt a surge of pride knowing that my parents had defied the odds and fought for their love. If only I could remember it.

"Rumors have it that your mom's sister was actually in love with your dad first, but he fell for your mom instead," Ana continued.

"Yeah, I've heard that too. I'm sure you must have seen her around. She looks a lot like your mom," I mused aloud, contemplating whether to disclose my secret.

"Guys," I said, capturing their attention.

"What do you mean, Red?" Ana asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I haven't been completely honest here," I confessed, my voice tinged with vulnerability.

They exchanged glances before focusing their attention back on me.

"What is it?" Avery inquired gently.

I stood up from my bed and walked over to the window, staring out into the night sky.

"I can't remember them," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Huh?" Ana questioned, clearly taken aback.

"We don't understand, Red. What don't you remember?" Avery pressed for clarification.

I turned to face them, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I can't remember their faces. My parents, nothing. I can't recall holding them or hugging them. I can't remember crying on their shoulders as a child," I confessed, the pain evident in my voice.

"You mean..." Ana trailed off, her voice filled with sympathy.

"Yes, my memories of them were removed. And that's one of the reasons I'm here," I admitted, my voice trembling with emotion.

"Red," Avery began, her voice filled with compassion.

"I know it sounds stupid that their only child can't even remember what they look like without staring at their pictures, but it hurts so much," I sobbed, unable to hold back the flood of emotions any longer.

Without hesitation, Ana and Avery rushed to my side, enveloping me in a comforting embrace. Tears streamed down my face, and their words of encouragement did little to stem the tide of sorrow.

"Red, this is not your fault," Avery reassured me, her voice firm yet gentle.

"I don't know how it's not my fault, Avery. I just feel like it is," I replied, my voice choked with emotion.

"Whether it is or not, you can't believe that they didn't want you," Ana interjected, her eyes filled with determination.

"We're going to make sure that your memories are brought back, and their deaths will be justified," Avery vowed, her voice filled with conviction.

"How are we going to do that?" I asked, wiping my tears and mustering a glimmer of hope.

Ana, still holding me tightly, looked at Avery, confusion evident in her eyes.

"You said you can see people's memories, right?" Avery stated, turning to Ana.

Ana nodded her head, her expression shifting from confusion to realization.

"Good, because you're going to look into Red's past and find out what happened that day," Avery declared, her voice resolute.

Ana's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by the proposition.

"Me? How?" Ana stuttered, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"You have a unique ability, Ana. You can tap into memories, and if anyone can uncover the truth, it's you," Avery explained, her voice full of trust.

I looked at Ana, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew it was a risk, but I had to find out what happened to my parents, even if it meant delving into painful memories.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter ❤️